The Hird Interviews

[Sir Why You Little 37,128]

32 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

loved the comment that worsfold wouldn't have time to understand and check supplements. lol, ffs he's a qualified chemist.

Such large piles of BS from James and Tracey. Her comment at the end was so slanted. 

[daisycutter 29,738]

bomba thompson's role needs a lot more scrutiny. as i understand it, his role, at least partly, was to mentor hird who had no prior coaching or management experience nor coaching accreditation qualifications. not excusing hird for his bad decision making and failure to accept his responsibilities but i think thompson has got off very lightly for his role. of course it also goes beyond these two. there was a systematic breakdown of management and governance right to the top.

[binman 43,762]

2 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

Hird wants it both ways:

• I wasn't part of the management chain for the "supplements" program and was in the dark about what was happening
• I know that the players didn't take anything prohibited

Hird likes it both ways

[chook fowler 19,546]

24 minutes ago, binman said:

Hird likes it both ways

Do tell - details please!

[binman 43,762]

3 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Do tell - details please!

Well he says he he wasn't part of the management chain for the "supplements" program and was in the dark about what was happening yet also says he knows that the players didn't take anything prohibited.

 

• I really only wanted an excuse to put a link to an aussie glam rock classic! 

 

[Hulett Packard III 166]

Dr Turf gets stuck into Hird and Holmes

[rjay 25,088]

44 minutes ago, Hulett Packard III said:

Dr Turf gets stuck into Hird and Holmes

I also like that this morning before launching into Hird and Holmes he had a go at the "360" interview with Dill the other night.

I'm with you 'Turf', I thought it was very average and not just Robbo. Gerrard can carry part of the blame on this one, they are becoming Dill's patsy's that's why he goes on their show.

Edited January 19, 2016 by rjay

[sue 9,143]

Gotta love Hird's choice of words in his latest foray into blame everyone but himself. In the Age he is quoted saying:

"There was no directive from the club and I think you read - I think that was a mistake by some of the players. If you read the CAS report, it says the 34 players didn't disclose," he said.

"Well, 34 players weren't tested in that year. Only 21 of the players were tested. That absolves - there's 13 that weren't tested. "

I dimly recall the CAS judgement did not say 34 didn't disclose, just those who were asked. Is that right?  And what does Hird think the 13 are absolved of?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-34-james-hird-says-players-made-a-mistake-in-keeping-quiet-20160119-gm8vrf.html

[Lucifers Hero 40,362]

27 minutes ago, sue said:

Gotta love Hird's choice of words in his latest foray into blame everyone but himself. In the Age he is quoted saying:

"There was no directive from the club and I think you read - I think that was a mistake by some of the players. If you read the CAS report, it says the 34 players didn't disclose," he said.

"Well, 34 players weren't tested in that year. Only 21 of the players were tested. That absolves - there's 13 that weren't tested. "

I dimly recall the CAS judgement did not say 34 didn't disclose, just those who were asked. Is that right?  And what does Hird think the 13 are absolved of?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-34-james-hird-says-players-made-a-mistake-in-keeping-quiet-20160119-gm8vrf.html

He went on to say there was no direction from the club to keep the supplement regime a secret or not to put the supplements on declaration forms for ASADA testing.  You have to wonder what the players made of those comments!!  I guess he has thrown everyone else under the bus, why not the players! 

That article and comments are based on a Q&A by the audience after the Holmes interview.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/james-hird-answers-questions-from-the-audience/7096276  One question was about why the 13 players who didn't participate.  He waffled before saying 'it was optional'!  Hmmmm...

Its interesting, during the Holmes interview Hird's body language and eye contact were statuesque like.  Both waivered a number of times during the (unscripted) Q&A...he even squirmed a little.   The audience asked smarter questions than Holmes did! 

Edited January 19, 2016 by Lucifer's Hero

[chook fowler 19,546]

2 hours ago, binman said:

Well he says he he wasn't part of the management chain for the "supplements" program and was in the dark about what was happening yet also says he knows that the players didn't take anything prohibited.

 

• I really only wanted an excuse to put a link to an aussie glam rock classic! 

 

I had obviously interpreted him liking it both ways somewhat differently.

[daisycutter 29,738]

1 hour ago, sue said:

Gotta love Hird's choice of words in his latest foray into blame everyone but himself. In the Age he is quoted saying:

"There was no directive from the club and I think you read - I think that was a mistake by some of the players. If you read the CAS report, it says the 34 players didn't disclose," he said.

"Well, 34 players weren't tested in that year. Only 21 of the players were tested. That absolves - there's 13 that weren't tested. "

I dimly recall the CAS judgement did not say 34 didn't disclose, just those who were asked. Is that right?  And what does Hird think the 13 are absolved of?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-34-james-hird-says-players-made-a-mistake-in-keeping-quiet-20160119-gm8vrf.html

i liked the bit when asked why players didn't do more to check up, he said they had done "everything possible". he said they had been told by dank that all supplements were legal so "what more could they do". i was just staggered, because all he mentioned in his reply was that just dank had said everything was ok

[biggestred 5,138]

I liked the bit the other night when he said he believed the players hadn't taken illegal supplements but then followed it up with

Only Steven dank knows what he gave to the players

 

Hirdy.

Just a [censored] small hole in your logic there buddy.

[Wells 11 5,422]

10 hours ago, biggestred said:

I liked the bit the other night when he said he believed the players hadn't taken illegal supplements but then followed it up with

Only Steven dank knows what he gave to the players

 

Hirdy.

Just a [censored] small hole in your logic there buddy.

There were so many its hard to know where to start! eg "Dank said what he was giving was legal" and "I'm not a medical person" etc  and we believed him ... followed by" we all agreed to sack him but Robson stopped it". Why  sack him if they believed him so much? or, if not,  why was EVER  allowed to continue. 

Or "I never got the letter Reid sent" ( which would have made such a difference apparently) followed by describing how close they are and that everything in the letter was already discussed! I think the letter was only ever about trying to save both their arses if anything ever came to light ie they BOTH knew  they were in something up to their necks and took that action to shield themselves. 

Strangely, I did feel for him in that interview ... his life is being destroyed and I get no pleasure from that with anyone. But the longer he fights whats happening the bigger the hole he's digging for himself and the more untrsutworthy he becomes in everyones eyes. I sense that he probably has, or had, a lot of charisma and presents himself in ways that people are affected by ... but trying to use that gift when the whole world can see through his words, must (if you were a player)  make everything he has ever said to you seem untrustable. I would say quit while your ahead Hirdy,  but in this case I'll say quit now, even while the bus is running over you,  because, if you don't the next vehicle will be a steam roller. 

[biggestred 5,138]

You look back and don't trust anything he's ever said

[Cards13 9,117]

7 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

There were so many its hard to know where to start! eg Dank said what he was giving was legal, "I'm not a medical person" etc  and we believed him ...followed by we all agreed to sack him but Robson stopped it. Why  sack him if they believed him so much? or, if not,  why was EVER  allowed to continue. 

Or I never got the letter Reid sent ( which would have made such a difference apparently) followed by describing how close they are and that everything in the letter was already discussed! I think the letter was  only ever about trying to save both their arses if anything ever came to light ie they BOTH knew  they were in something up to their necks and took that action to shield themselves. 

Strangely I did feel for him in that interview ... his life is being destroyed and I get no pleasure from that with anyone. But the longer he fights whats happening the bigger the hole he's digging for himself and the more untrustworthy he becomes in everyones eyes. I sense that he probably has  or had a lot of charisma and presents himself in ways that people are affected by ... but trying to use that gift when the whole world can see through his words, must ( if you were a player)  make everything he has ever said to you seem untrustable. I would say quit while your ahead hirdy,  but in this case I'll say quit now even while the bus is running over you.... because, if you don't, the next vehicle will be a steam roller. 

You think he is ahead? He should have quit years ago.

[Damo 3,374]

Im glad the bombers have to take their medicine. Most demonland posters were right. They will be down for years. Its over, their prolonged punishment will continue until Hird, Reid and Danks are hounded out of the state or put in stocks. But continual gloating demeans us, IMO.

[CHF 2,768]

This is what I believe.

 

I beilieve.......

1. Essendon set out to structure a drug based strategy that was illegal as shown by "whatever it takes" and Hirds pursuit of undetectable drugs to assist performance.

 2. Hird is a liar and needs to take responsibility for his role in the whole affair. His 'defence' of the players is hypocritical as the only thing he continues to defend is his own tattered reputation. He was one of the prime drivers of this strategy.

3. The board and the Administration at the time is also responsible for the position the club and players are in.

4. The AFL also shares responsibility for this situation as they believed they could "control" the process and outcome.

5. Dank is a bit player who is a convenient patsy.  Comes across to me as dumb as a post with just as much personality.

6. The strategy employed by Essendon to delay, delay, delay has been successful as there are only 12 of the original 34 left on the list. an earlier resolution of this would have had much more impact.

7. The players collectively have played this in a very dumb way. Right from the beginning they should have realised that the ultimate responsibility for what went into their bodies is theirs and theirs alone. 

8. The AFL should, if they had any guts, punish the Essendon football club for running this drug strategy. To not do so now is to allow the 34 players to accept all of the blame for this fiasco. Dank the patsy gets a life ban, the club get punished for governance short comings (as they should) Hird gets a paid holiday in France... the club collectively is responsible for an illegal performance enhancing drug program that they appear to be going unpunished for.

9. Jobe Watson's Brownlow should have been removed as soon as the verdict was given. He has no defence to retain it. if he retains it in any way shape or form it devalues and tarnishes the award for the best and fairest. Would he have been the best had it not been for the drugs and would it be fair to the others in the competition if a convicted drug cheat is adjudged the fairest? If you cannot answer 'yes' to both these questions Jobe, then give the medal back and ask for your name to be struck from the records.

10. Tracey Holmes is a dill and not an interviewer's elbow.

11. Essendon are as guilty as hell and I am going to make sure I do all i can to ensure that not $1 of mine goes to benefit them.

12. I feel not sympathy for the club or the players. They chose the path they followed and have to accept the consequences. 

13. Once the players have served their punishment, they should be free to continue their careers in any way they wish.

14. The architects of the program should be banned for life from any role in sport.

That is what I believe and I am not about to change those beliefs.

 

[Middymalt 244]

8 hours ago, Franky_31 said:

Im glad the bombers have to take their medicine. Most demonland posters were right. They will be down for years. Its over, their prolonged punishment will continue until Hird, Reid and Danks are hounded out of the state or put in stocks. But continual gloating demeans us, IMO.

Correct half the forums about the bombers certain individuals cannot let go.

[rjay 25,088]

Now Robson is avoiding all of KB's questions. This guy is a real piece of work, he got out of the club asap even though Evans asked him to stay on and set up his career going forward.

It's time the media really dug into Robson and looked at his history. Great man of SPIN but very little substance to back it up.

My Kiwi mates do not speak glowingly of his time with the Warriors...a disaster.

[Sir Why You Little 37,128]

6 minutes ago, rjay said:

Now Robson is avoiding all of KB's questions. This guy is a real piece of work, he got out of the club asap even though Evans asked him to stay on and set up his career going forward.

It's time the media really dug into Robson and looked at his history. Great man of SPIN but very little substance to back it up.

My Kiwi mates do not speak glowingly of his time with the Warriors...a disaster.

Agreed...

[rjay 25,088]

A bit more on Robson, sounds like a facsimile of someone we used to have...

http://www.nzwarriors.com/threads/ian-robson.46213/

He was sucking in the media way back then...also an interesting method of signing a new player. It seems like the paperwork didn't improve during his time at EFC.

It's easy to sheet all the blame to Hird, he's made himself a target. Dank is the man in black but this guy is Mr Invisible and he needs to be more accountable than just sticking his hand up and running away to another job.

We need to stay well clear of him when PJ's time is up...

[dee-luded 2,959]

15 hours ago, biggestred said:

I liked the bit the other night when he said he believed the players hadn't taken illegal supplements but then followed it up with

Only Steven dank knows what he gave to the players

 

Hirdy.

Just a [censored] small hole in your logic there buddy.

handball Hird,  handball here,  handball there,  this Hird mentality seems everywhere.  

 

just lucky we aren't waiting to be picked up by a bus driven by Hird, he doesn't like picking up passengers, I Hird.

 

 

[jnrmac 20,186]

2 hours ago, rjay said:

Now Robson is avoiding all of KB's questions. This guy is a real piece of work, he got out of the club asap even though Evans asked him to stay on and set up his career going forward.

It's time the media really dug into Robson and looked at his history. Great man of SPIN but very little substance to back it up.

My Kiwi mates do not speak glowingly of his time with the Warriors...a disaster.

Robson offered his resignation immediately after it was all made public. It was not accepted. Once the AFL report was handed down he offered again and it was accepted. The club and the AFL were happy to have a scalp.

[Sir Why You Little 37,128]

35 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Robson offered his resignation immediately after it was all made public. It was not accepted. Once the AFL report was handed down he offered again and it was accepted. The club and the AFL were happy to have a scalp.

Robson is similar to Hird. He knew what was going on. But he wanted to run and say nothing. Wash his hands. But he will never admit he fcuked up

that 30 minutes of radio with KB today was quite strange...

[old55 23,687]

41 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Robson offered his resignation immediately after it was all made public. It was not accepted. Once the AFL report was handed down he offered again and it was accepted. The club and the AFL were happy to have a scalp.

Robson played it very smartly: "i should have known about the program but I didn't know anything about it, therefore I have to resign"  Least possible personal damage.